In today’s fast-paced business environment, workplace safety often hinges on the smallest details. One of these critical details involves properly testing and tagging electrical equipment. Ensuring that our tools and machines are functioning correctly isn’t just a matter of efficiency—it’s a matter of safety, compliance, and responsibility. While many organisations recognize the importance of this process, errors can often slip through the cracks, leading to potential hazards. This blog post will delve deep into some of the most common test and tag mistakes businesses make. By understanding and avoiding these pitfalls, we can foster a safer, more secure environment for our teams while ensuring our equipment operates at its optimal level.
Understanding Test and Tag
At its core, test and tag is a safety protocol used to examine the functionality and safety of electrical appliances in professional settings. This procedure involves two main steps: first, a visual inspection of the equipment and an electrical test. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the devices do not pose a risk of electrical harm to those who use them.
After successful testing, the equipment gets “tagged” with a label indicating it’s safe to use, the date of the test, and the due date for the next test. This simple yet crucial procedure ensures workplace electrical equipment remains within safe operational standards.
The test and tag procedure finds its grounding in various standards and regulations. In many regions, the most notable of these is the Electrical Work Regulation, which dictates the requirements and frequencies for testing different equipment types. The specifics can vary depending on the nature of the workplace (e.g., a construction site versus a typical office) and the equipment’s operating conditions.
Common Test and Tag Mistakes
Not Testing and Tagging at Regular Intervals
One of the primary mistakes businesses make is neglecting to test and tag their equipment at regular, specified intervals. Without consistent checks, equipment can deteriorate without detection, putting users at risk of electrical shock or fires. Depending on the equipment type and its conditions of use, testing intervals can range from every three months for high-risk environments to yearly for low-risk areas. Adhering to these recommended intervals is paramount for ensuring a safe working environment.
Using Incorrect or Outdated Equipment
As technology evolves, so do the tools used for test and tag procedures. Relying on outdated equipment or tools not designed for the specific appliances you’re testing can lead to inaccurate results. The stakes are high, as a false pass can mean using a potentially hazardous device, while a false fail can result in unnecessary replacement costs. Regularly updating and calibrating testing tools is essential.
Inadequate Training or Unqualified Personnel Conducting the Tests
Test and tag might seem straightforward but require detailed knowledge and expertise. Untrained or unqualified personnel can easily overlook essential factors, leading to errors. Proper training ensures that staff can accurately identify potential hazards and understand the nuances of different equipment types. It’s not just about following a procedure—it’s about understanding why each step is crucial.
Not Keeping Proper Records
Accurate record-keeping is vital in the test and tag process. If an incident occurs, these records provide an essential trail of evidence showing whether the equipment was tested and deemed safe. Moreover, organised records help businesses track when their next tests are due. Poor record management can result in missed testing intervals or legal complications in the event of an audit or accident.
Ignoring Failed Equipment or Not Taking Immediate Action
When equipment fails a test, immediate action is crucial. Using faulty equipment can pose significant safety risks, from minor shocks to electrical fires. It’s essential to either repair or replace failed equipment promptly and ensure that it doesn’t re-enter the workflow until it passes the testing criteria.
Not Testing All Necessary Equipment
Sometimes, certain pieces of equipment can get overlooked, either out of ignorance or mere oversight. Regardless of its perceived importance, every electrical appliance poses a risk if not properly maintained. Establishing and regularly updating a comprehensive checklist ensures that no device goes unchecked.
Relying Solely on Visual Inspections
While visual inspections are a vital part of the test and tag process, they are insufficient. Visual checks can detect obvious damages, like frayed cords or broken plugs, but they can’t identify internal electrical faults. Combining visual inspections with electrical tests offers a comprehensive assessment of equipment safety.
Benefits of Avoiding These Mistakes
Enhanced Safety in the Workplace: Creating a safer workplace is at the heart of the test and tag process. By sidestepping the aforementioned pitfalls, businesses minimise the risk of electrical accidents and foster an environment where employees feel secure in the knowledge that their equipment is safe to use.
Extended Equipment Lifespan: Regular and accurate testing can identify minor issues before they evolve into major ones. Addressing these problems promptly can extend the life of the equipment, saving businesses from premature replacement costs.
Compliance with Legal Regulations and Standards: Keeping up with test and tag requirements ensures that businesses always meet local regulations and standards. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines; it’s a commitment to safety and professionalism.
Peace of Mind for Employees and Employers: There’s an immeasurable value in the peace of mind that comes from knowing a workplace is safe. For employers, it means reducing the risks of accidents and potential legal ramifications. For employees, it means a safe working environment where they can focus on their tasks without fear.
Tips for a Robust Test and Tag Program
Regularly Updating Training for Personnel: As equipment evolves, so do testing methodologies and best practices. Regular training ensures that staff are always equipped with the latest knowledge to conduct tests accurately and efficiently.
Investing in Quality Testing Equipment: High-quality testing tools provide accurate readings, reducing the chances of false passes or fails. Investing in the best equipment available ensures reliability in the testing process.
Maintaining a Detailed and Organized Record System: A well-maintained record system helps track test dates, results, and upcoming schedules. Using digital tools or software can make this process even more efficient and organised.
Regular Reviews of Testing Protocols and Checklists: Businesses and their equipment needs evolve. Regular reviews ensure no new devices are overlooked, and testing protocols remain relevant.
The importance of a rigorous test and tag program cannot be overstated in a world where the smallest oversights can lead to significant consequences. When correctly implemented, these procedures serve as a protective shield for businesses—guarding against potential hazards, prolonging the lifespan of equipment, and upholding the highest standards of workplace safety. Businesses must recognize that avoiding common test and tag mistakes isn’t just a procedural necessity but a reflection of their commitment to safety and care for their employees. As we move forward in an increasingly tech-driven landscape, the call to prioritise safety through proper test and tag practices becomes not just advisable but indispensable.
If you have an electrical safety plan, it is important to regularly review it. The electrical safety inspection is the key to having uninterrupted power in your house. The purpose of the inspection is to detect potential electrical hazards in an area and then fix them. If any electrical hazards are discovered, they should be repaired immediately and not put off for another time.
Inspection Basics
An electrical safety inspection will normally cover all areas of your house. It would also include all wiring systems, grounding and bonding of electrical circuits, electronic devices and other associated parts of the system. Some inspectors would even go as far as to check for any fuse box issues, electrical switches that are loose or damaged, and circuit breakers. The main thing that the electrical safety inspection is looking for is any issues or risks in your electrical system.
Safety checks also include inspecting electrical appliances. In the house, the electrical appliances mostly would be the washing machines, dryer, dishwashers, etc. In the case of any malfunctioning or irregularity with the appliances, they need to be repaired or replaced immediately before the danger reaches a critical level. If the electrical safety inspection found no issues with the appliances, then the house needs to be considered safe to live in.
The electrical inspectors also inspect for any issues with the distribution system and distribution wires. These types of inspections are usually the responsibility of electricians. They are very well aware of the dangers of installing wires in the wrong manner or the wrong places.
Inspection Process
When an electrical safety inspection is performed, the inspectors look for several areas including the following:
any defective wiring in the systems or circuits;
any loose or missing connections in the systems;
any exposed, shorting or broken wires;
any damage to the main supply;
any water leakage or burst pipes;
exposed electrical components;
or any other hazards that pose a threat.
To carry out the safety inspection, inspectors first identify the areas that may have the potential for electrical faults to occur. These identified places are then individually addressed by the inspectors. While performing the inspection, they also identify the appliances that are plugged in and are grounded so that there is no risk of a fault taking place. For safety purposes, home electrical safety inspections must be done by trained professionals, like the team at Jolt Electrical Contractors, who know how to safely handle electrical equipment. It is also equally important that you make sure that the electrical service provider that you are hiring has the necessary authorization and license to perform the electrical safety inspections.
Electrical safety is an area of environmental management concerned with protecting employees and workers from electrical hazards. Electrical safety is about preventing electrical power surges, electrocution and electric shock. Electrical safety is an area of occupational protection that is governed by numerous electrical safety codes. An electrical safety program is a means of implementation to enforce electrical safety standards across the nation.
Safety Codes
Numerous electrical safety codes protect electrical equipment, people and structures. All electrical equipment, electrical machinery and electrical structures that are exposed to the risk of electrical shock must be equipped with an electrical safety breaker. The purpose of this breaker is to protect the electrical equipment, electrical machinery and electrical structures by initiating an automatic switch off when there is an electrical shock. A lot of people who perform maintenance and servicing of electrical equipment will know about electrical safety codes and this will help them safely perform their work.
Electrical Hazards
You must be trained to identify the electrical hazards in your office or another workplace. This means that you must be familiar with all electrical hazards and know how to protect yourself from the dangers of electricity. If you work in a factory, you have to go through an electrical safety program to protect yourself and others. Electrical equipment like computers and electrical appliances are commonly exposed to the risk of electrical fires. Electrical fires start when exposed electrical wires touch inflammable material or are immersed in fluids. In some cases, if the wires are not properly protected, a spark may occur and fire will start.
Electrical shock can also happen if there is inadequate insulation in electrical appliances and computers. Even if the appliances are properly protected, if they are exposed to electricity for a long period, they can be damaged and may even cause death. You should make sure that all the electrical safety equipment is properly maintained. If there is a power fluctuation, you should turn off the power immediately. Keep all electrical hazards and emergency exits covered, so that none of you gets shocked. It is advisable to put on masks or goggles when you are working in areas where there is electricity.
Safety Equipment
Many employers require their workers to wear proper electrical safety equipment. Some employers have specific electrical safety guidelines for their workplaces. You should read and understand these workplace safety rules or policies before working on their premises. These policies usually specify what type of electrical safety supplies and accessories you should use and when they should be used. Most workplaces have specific rules about the use and maintenance of electrical systems and safety equipment.
The government has specific electrical safety policies and programs that it applies to employers and employees. These include electrical safety guidelines and training requirements. These policies and training requirements usually state the level of protection that the employees are entitled to. Some of the training requirements might even state that the employees have to undergo certain training before they can work in a certain workplace. These training requirements might include an electrical safety program or an electrical safety induction program.
Certificates
When you obtain your nfpa 70E certificate, you will be able to show it to your prospective employer or to another organization that asks for it. This will help your career. If you want to work in a factory or facility, the company might require you to obtain the nfpa 70E certification. With this certification, you will be able to protect yourself in the event of an electrical safety emergency or case of an electrical fire. You will be able to identify the risks in the workplace and ensure that the people in the workplace are safe.
Some of the electrical safety hazards in the workplace are electrical fires, electrical shock, and electrical shock hazards. You must ensure that the electrical equipment you are using in the workplace is not dangerous for you or anybody else. There are many electrical safety products available in the market to help you identify the hazards in the workplace and ensure that you comply with electrical safety regulations. You can use the information obtained from the nfpa 70E certification as a reference when you buy the electrical appliances that you need in your office.
There are many different reasons why people purchase test and tag labels. They may need a variety of different labels for their business, or perhaps you want to personalize a certain item in your life. No matter why you need to test and tag labels, you can find a variety of different styles, shapes, and sizes right on the internet. You can even find a custom test and tag printing if you cannot find exactly what you’re looking for.
Many people choose to test and tag labels when creating a new product. If you are starting a new business or designing an original product, this is a great way to ensure that your customer knows what you are selling. You can personalize the test and the tag with the information you are giving customers. This will help you get repeat sales, which is important. Test and tag software can also be used to print out brochures, flyers, and other informational items so you can give them out to your customers.
Basic Info
For business purposes, test and tag printing is a necessity. It can be used for anything from a product description, warranty, or even just to make sure the person you are mailing or delivering the product to has a valid address. There are so many different types of these products that you can use. You can get a list of different labels to use for your business needs by searching online. Here are a few examples of what you can find:
If you need a quick and easy way to ensure that you are not wasting paper when it comes to shipping your items, there is no other way to do it than using test and tag. These are labels you can print out and use for your products to ensure that they are delivered to the correct address. You can get these for a variety of different items, including toys, books, food packages, luggage, and more.
For items that you might be sending or giving away to others, you need to make sure that they are not tampered with in any way. Many people do this by placing their labels on items. However, this can be very dangerous and difficult if you do not know what you are doing. When you are using to test and tag labels, you can simply put the name of who is getting the item and then put the bar code on it. This way, the recipient will know that it came from you and that no one else’s name was involved in the process.
Supplies
When you are looking for test and tag supplies, you should first check your local community store. Most of the time, there will be several options for you to choose from. If you have any questions, you can talk to the manager and he will be able to direct you to where you can purchase test and tag materials. Another good place to purchase these products would be office supply stores. You can easily find them because many of them sell products that will help you promote your business as well as help you keep track of the products that you have.
When you purchase test and tag materials, you need to make sure that you are purchasing high-quality materials. You do not want to get any test and tag labels that come from low-end manufacturers. The reason for this is that the test and tag labels from these low-end manufacturers will not be as durable and will not last long. Another reason to purchase from a quality source is that you will be able to find more styles of test and tag labels. The more options you have, the easier it will be for you to decorate different rooms within your house. You will also be able to give your rooms a more personalized look.
Before you purchase the products from the store, you will want to make sure that you take a few minutes to look online at the many different types of products that are available. You can even order the test and tag labels that you want directly from the internet. This will give you more time to look for the perfect product for your home. There are many places online that will give you great deals on the products, which will make it easier for you to purchase the labels that you need.
Fire safety is an important group of practices designed to minimize the loss of life and property caused by fire. Effective fire safety measures incorporate both those that are implemented in existing structures or planned for construction of new buildings and those that are typically taught to new occupants of the structure. The use of fire safety equipment is a crucial part of fire safety. The fire safety certificate for a new building must demonstrate compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Also, it should encourage occupants to practice fire safety and take appropriate steps to avoid fire damage.
Certificates
The majority of fire safety certificates require the use of fire safety equipment. These include fire extinguishers, fire safety signs and emergency exit signs. These products can make a difference when they are used correctly. However, there are some situations in which no fire safety equipment is necessary, and self-inspection is sufficient. For example, general building inspections are designed to alert owners to any dangerous conditions that may exist, but they do not require the presence of fire extinguishers or other safety devices.
Good working order of fire safety equipment should include extinguishers, fire buckets, fire doors, fire buckets with automatic fire release and escape fire doors. Automatic fire release and escape fire doors are devices that protect against fire spreading into the room and are required by law in Canada. There are many types of fire safety equipment. Common ones include fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire helmets. Fire extinguishers are designed to extinguish small contained fires such as kitchen fires, candlelight fires, electrical fires, gas leaks, coatings or flammables incombustible materials and electrical fires. Fire blankets are fire safety equipment that protects people from being directly exposed to fire and also keep fires from spreading to other areas of the facility.
Requirements
An important requirement for fire safety in the workplace is fire safety equipment that does not create a dangerous hazard when it is not in use. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) produces two sets of fire safety standards, one for companies and the other for workers. For companies, fire safety equipment that prevents fire from spreading and protecting people from fire is a requirement. Employees are required to carry fire safety equipment at work. To meet the standard, products need to be designed and manufactured by the 2021 Edition of the CSA Standard on fire safety equipment.
Smoke alarms and fire safety switch to protect people in the workplace and personal residences. They reduce the risk of fire occurring in both situations. They may be installed in all rooms that contain combustible gases, in all buildings where hazardous substances are present, in factories where fire safety equipment is used and in any office where an alarm system is installed. A fire safety switch is installed near the fire extinguisher or fire alarm. When the fire safety switch is armed, it automatically stops the fire.
There are also fire safety regulations for schools and daycare facilities. These regulations require that fire safety features are present in such places. Daycare fire safety regulations state that fire safety equipment must be located so that they can be reached easily by children. This fire safety equipment can include fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Children must also be taught fire safety.
Safety Plans
If you work in a government building, such as a school, you may have fire safety plans that were developed by a fire safety planning committee. In these fire safety plans, you should list the types of fire prevention equipment that you use in your workplace and the locations of fire safety equipment that you keep in your building. For instance, a fire safety plan for a school may state that all fire safety equipment must be kept in a fire safety room. A fire safety department may be called to ensure that the fire safety plan is being followed.
All the rules and regulations concerning fire safety and life safety are regulated at the local, state, federal and regional levels. You should contact the US fire Marshall for the area in which you live to find out what you need to do to comply with the fire safety laws and regulations. If you are not sure what type of fire safety plan you should create or what you should do in the event of an actual fire, you should contact the nearest fire department and take advantage of their free fire safety training resources available to educate yourself on fire safety.
Test and tag systems are essential for the service and repair of electrical equipment in the workplace. A durable, reusable test tag is required to securely attach immediately after testing and thoroughly checking to identify the test and tag number for each piece of equipment. A tag identifying test and tag number for each test and tool must be available for immediate identification and retrieval. Often a tool with an ID tag (green, red or black) is used for easy identification.
Schedule
The frequency of test and tag maintenance is determined by the manufacturer. Maintenance schedules should be established and regularly reviewed to ensure adequate identification and retrieval. Maintaining tags is essential to maintaining compliance with the Australian Consumer Law and Electrical Registration Code. The purpose of maintaining tags is to ensure that they are easily identifiable for use and re-identification. It is important to note that the Australian Consumer Law and Electrical Registration Code do not apply to test and diagnose electrical appliances.
The test and tag industry is a $3.5 million sector in Australia. The test and tag industry is regulated by the Accreditation Council for Electrical Registration Scheme (ACERS). The ACERS provides a list of qualified persons who can perform testing and providing training to others in the industry.
Equipment
There are several types of test and tag equipment. The most common type is the portable appliance tester. This is a special tool that identifies the type of electrical equipment attached to a fixed appliance. It can be attached to the appliance, turned on and then inspected for any signs of damage or problems. If there are no problems, the attached test strip is marked and removed from the appliance for subsequent testing.
Another special test strip is known as the 3760 standards. This test strip is used for testing and diagnosing electrical appliances, such as televisions, computers and cell phones. It can also detect faults with fuse holders. When attached to an appliance, the 3760 standard test strip displays the ID number of the fuse holder.
Another form of test and tag is known as the durable tag test. This is a special type of label applied to a particular component, such as an electrical plug, and then removed for testing and evaluation. The reason why this is considered a durable label is that it will not become damaged if it is removed for testing or diagnosing purposes.
Frequency
The test and tag frequency are regulated by the ACERS. To comply with their regulations, test and tag frequency must be at least once per year. This frequency is specified in the Australian Standard for Electrical Certificates. If this frequency cannot be met, then this equipment is considered to be not per the Australian Standard. This will result in immediate action being taken to remedy the problem.
You will need to ensure that all employees and employers are aware of the need for test and tag compliance and follow the rules and regulations. There are many resources available to help you comply. If you are using hire equipment, ensure that your employees use the appropriate tags. When they wear the appropriate tags, there will be no confusion or danger related to the test and tag process.
In addition to ensuring that test and tag compliance is followed, you must also regularly test and tag electrical equipment. All employees and employers must be made aware of any changes to the test and tag procedures. For instance, some tests may need to be conducted on a particular type of electrical equipment, such as a fuse. When the fuse is tripped, there should be an employee who can identify the problem. This could include making the test and tag for a different type of fuse.
Other Areas
The test and tag process is not limited to the workplace. Any time you have electrical equipment used in other places, such as schools or businesses, you should also have a test and tag team. When an employee or an employer uses electrical equipment in another location, it is important to test and tag the equipment. It is important for peace of mind among all parties. For schools, the frequency of testing can vary depending on the age and level of exposure of the students.
There are two ways to test and tag appliances. First, you can physically test the appliance or ask the installer to place the equipment in a visible and accessible location. Next, you can conduct visual inspections. For this, you would place the appliance or a visual inspection component inside the visible portion of the room and then visually inspect the appliance from different angles. Both of these methods should ensure that the person using the appliance knows what to do in the event of an emergency or fire.
There is no way around it, exit sign testing is a crucial part of the process when it comes to making sure that your commercial business or residence is safe and secure. Why do we say this? Well, exit signs are important because they act as the exit guide for anyone who might be in the process of leaving, such as a fire exit sign, and the signs must be able to withstand a lot of strain. They should be able to maintain their shape and not bend or break. In addition to this, the exit sign must also be able to alert people to an emergency and at the same time make them aware that other exit signs will direct them to other directions, such as an emergency exit ramp.
Why should exit light testing be necessary? Simply put, if your exit sign breaks into two or more pieces, then it could potentially endanger anyone who might be crossing it. If they happen to fall, they could hit their heads on something soft or solid and possibly even die. This could prove to be extremely problematic if there is another load of people streaming out of an exit door, and you don’t have any exit signs to warn them about the stairs and other exits in case someone gets trapped. You also need an exit sign that can take people directly to the next exit, rather than have them walk all the way around.
What are some signs that need exit sign testing? Well, there are many, and here a few to start with: * An exit sign that does not match up to the exit sign that is mounted on the building. You see, exit signs get mounted on the building and then screwed onto the building walls. If the exit sign is screwed onto the wall instead of the building material, then it is very difficult to read and understand, and you’ll likely make lots of mistakes as you find your way out. Do yourself and your employees a favour and get your exit signs aligned so that confusion doesn’t become a factor and you have fewer lost leads in the process.
An exit sign that isn’t easily readable from more than a few feet away. This will happen if you have multiple exit signs mounted on multiple walls. If you are trying to mount an exit sign on a single wall, then you know what I’m talking about. Either the exit sign won’t be easily readable, or it just doesn’t fit well. If you aren’t going through a lot of moving around or are getting rid of an exit sign after installation, then you may want to consider a different exit sign company.
An exit sign that doesn’t match up to the actual exit sign that is on the building. Again, if you are installing an exit sign, then you already know that fact. However, if you are just installing a new exit sign onto a new building, then this can become a big problem. Make sure that the exit sign that you choose fits the building perfectly, and is easily readable from more than a few feet away. This will save you a lot of frustration down the road!
The exit sign isn’t positioned properly. Some companies like to test out their exit signs by putting them up one at a time. Then, they mark the position of each exit sign and go back over it to make sure that everything is square. The problem with this is that it makes it very difficult for an exit sign to “see” an exit and have it “act” correctly. So, make sure that you mark the location of your exit sign and then move it. You can always change the positioning later.
Your exit sign isn’t in a place that your customers are going to see it. You need to be able to see the exit sign from several feet away. When you have exit sign testing done, don’t just look at it from a few feet away. You need to walk up to it and point it out. This will let you see exactly where your customers are going to be and will help them to plan their route easier.
While exit sign testing is a process that you shouldn’t take lightly, it can save you problems down the road. Don’t take the risk of your exit sign not working in a crisis. By doing simple exit sign testing, you can avoid these potential problems before they become serious.
Emergency lighting is a vital and common element in any building construction. It also provides essential protection to personnel and building occupants when there is a threat of fires or injuries due to defective service equipment, wiring, or similar reasons. Buildings and facilities must be regularly inspected and tested to ensure compliance with emergency lighting testing regulations. This will ensure that emergency lighting works as designed and is not vulnerable to short-circuit or fire accidents.
Testing Objectives
There are two main objectives of emergency lighting testing: protecting life and preventing loss of life. General information on emergency lighting testing is available from the Canadian Society of Fire Engineers and British Standard EN 5000. The most basic duty of the testing facility is on the property of the occupier/owner of the building. In this capacity, the testing facility is responsible for checking all emergency lighting systems and for conducting routine maintenance checks on emergency lighting appliances. Monthly emergency lighting testing (for central and emergency backup systems only)
Requirements
There are many different types of emergency lighting requirements. For a commercial or office building, the most common requirement is for an emergency exit system with a clear path to the exit; this emergency lighting must be visible throughout the day and all night. Compliance with this standard requires that emergency lighting, including emergency exit, be visible from the exterior of the building. There are other requirements for offices and commercial premises such as emergency lighting at reception and emergency lighting along with doorways and hallways.
In offices and commercial premises, the most important requirement is for compliance with the Standard EN 508: Safe Work Practice for the Installation of Self-Contained Emergency Lighting (SCEN). This requirement requires that the central battery pack shall be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions and that the duration of each charge should not exceed three hours. For an office or commercial premise, the longest duration of charge is three hours. The purpose of the requirement is to provide businesses and offices with an extra level of safety for employees when emergency lighting is required.
Installation and Testing
All offices and commercial establishments are required to install emergency lighting. An inspection of the location of the emergency lighting system and its connection points is a primary part of the procedures during the installation process. Per British Standard EN 508, the installation of the central battery pack shall be located at least one meter from the point of operation. This distance shall be followed for a maximum of five years. There are times when the distance is increased from six meters to ten meters.
For premises that are not located near the emergency source, the installation procedure shall also involve two steps. The first step involves checking the minimum duration for which the lighting system can operate during power outages and darkness. This test shall be conducted using a remote control. Once this is done, the second step in the process will involve checking the duration for which the lights can operate even if there are no power cuts. If the test results in the minimum duration being achieved, the system shall be left in its place and not replaced.
Lighting systems shall be left in their original position with all controls intact and in a normal working condition. They shall also be attached to the ceiling in a manner that they cannot be pulled up or pushed by anybody. If they are attached to the ceiling, the inspectors will need to inspect any loose connections. In any case, where the installation is not completed correctly or is found to be incomplete, it is recommended that the equipment is inspected by authorized personnel for any defects.
It is mandatory to test any high-risk task area lighting system that has been installed in any building to check its functionality under emergency lighting conditions. The process of emergency lighting testing shall start once the building’s electrical power has been restored. The inspectors shall inspect all areas of the facility that require illumination. These places include emergency egress routes, emergency stairwells, emergency exits, emergency lighting control units, emergency lighting fixtures and fittings, emergency exit signs, emergency lighting sensors and lighting controls. All these parts of the facility shall be tested one at a time with a maximum period of three hours in each section.
